|
The Right Choice
Selecting
the right type of smoke alarm and auxiliary device is critical in
protecting life and providing the earliest warning in an event of a
fire.
Fires develop in a range of different ways and are often unpredictable.
For
maximum protection, we recommend that both ionisation and photoelectric
smoke alarm be installed to help ensure maximum detection of various
types of fires that occur within the home.
For a comparison between ionisation and photoelectric smoke alarms see below.
To see our Trouble Shooting section Click Here
The difference between Ion and Photoelectric
Photoelectric
This smoke alarm is based on the principle of optical detection. It is also known as the "scattered-light" principle. An alarm condition occurs when smoke particles enter the light path within the detection chamber, and some of the light gets "scattered" by reflection and refraction onto a sensor. Photoelectric smoke alarms are more responsive to visible smoke particles by most slow smouldering fires. This smoke alarm is ideally suited in living rooms, hallways and corridors. If only one smoke alarm is installed in your home, we recommend a photoelectric smoke alarm. Photoelectric smoke alarms provide the best overall protection.
Ionisation
This
smoke alarm is based on the principle of ion flow within the detector
chamber. An alarm condition occurs when the ion flow is affected by
smoke particles. Ionisation smoke alarms are more responsive to
invisible smoke particles produced by most fast flaming fires. This
smoke alarm is ideally suited in bedrooms.
Below are some links for more useful information:
Fire Protection Association
Your Local Fire Authority
|